Shloka 4
Virāṭa-sabhāyāṃ Saṃniveśaḥ — Assembly at Virāṭa’s Hall and Kṛṣṇa’s Diplomatic Counsel
पाञज्चालराजस्य समीपततस्तु शिनिप्रवीर: सहरौहिणेय: । मत्स्यस्य राज्ञस्तु सुसंनिकृष्टो जनार्दनश्वैव युधिष्ठिरश्ष,पांचालराज द्रुपदके पास शिनिवंशके श्रेष्ठ वीर सात्यकि तथा रोहिणीनन्दन बलरामजी बैठे थे और मत्स्यराज विराटके अत्यन्त निकट श्रीकृष्ण तथा युधिष्ठिर विराजमान थे
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: Pāñcālarājasya samīpatas tu Śinipravīraḥ saharauhiṇeyaḥ | Matsyasya rājñas tu susaṃnikṛṣṭo Janārdanaś caiva Yudhiṣṭhiraś ca ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana berkata: Dekat raja Pāñcāla duduklah wira terunggul keturunan Śini, Sātyaki, bersama Rauhiṇeya (Balarāma). Sangat hampir dengan raja Matsya duduk Janārdana (Kṛṣṇa) dan Yudhiṣṭhira. Bait ini diam-diam memetakan pakatan dan pertaruhan moral: para Pāṇḍava yang benar diperlihatkan disokong oleh pemimpin Yādava yang masyhur, menandakan kesepaduan politik dan juga beratnya dharma yang menghimpun menjelang perang yang bakal meletus.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores dharmic alignment through proximity and association: eminent allies (Sātyaki, Balarāma, Kṛṣṇa) are shown standing close to the Pāṇḍava side and their supporters, suggesting that moral authority and political support converge as the war approaches.
A seating/positioning description is given: Sātyaki and Balarāma sit near Drupada (king of Pāñcāla), while Kṛṣṇa and Yudhiṣṭhira sit very near Virāṭa (king of Matsya), indicating the arrangement of key figures and alliances in the assembly context of Udyoga Parva.